NEWS| Jennifer Morris and Pam Hogg nominated at Scottish Fashion Awards 2013

This week has seen the announcement that the 8^th annual Scottish Fashion Awards extravaganza will take place in London’s answer to picturesque Scottish heritage; Dover House, a magnificent Grade 1 listed Georgian Mansion, on Wednesday October 9^th 2013. Whilst the event will be hosted by awards founder Dr Tessa Hartmann and Scottish Secretary of State, Michael Moore MP; a number of high profile names are amongst the shortlist, which includes Christopher Kane, Jonathan Saunders, Louise Gray and Fashion Scout alumni; Pam Hogg and Jennifer Morris.

The event will provide an incredible platform for Scotland’s finest designers, emerging talent, textile manufacturers, and fashion players for the nations most high profile celebration of fashion and style; and the Awards shine a global spotlight on Scottish work and honour those high profile global brands that continue to use Scottish cashmere and textiles within their own collections.

The event is renowned for its string of high profile guests to include celebrities, models, designers, fashion figures and dignitaries; and this years finalists will be judged by a panel of leading fashion professionals, including 2012 Fashion Ambassador award winner Colin McDowell.

In addition to the awards already released, a series of special awards including the ‘Hall of Fame, ‘Fashion Ambassador’, ‘Fashion Innovator of the Year’ and a new ‘Founders Award’ will be revealed in October at the presentation in London.

By Brooke McCord, @BrookeMcCord

NEWS| Ksenia Schnaider's AW13 Bodywarmer collection

Ukrainian designer Ksenia Schnaider has combined her latest look book, inspirations and presentations, including the Fashion Scout exhibition, and placed them within an online publication. The designer, whose AW13 collection entitled Bodywarmer is inspired by the classic body warmer of the Soviet Union, founded her label in 2011 and showcased her work as a part of our Kiev Fashion Days in February. "For Ksenia Schnaider collections we're inspired by the clothes themselves," she said in an interview on her latest collection. "We only work with codes, utility and the history of clothes."

Schaider's digital showcase of work can be viewed here. 

By Josh Walker (@josh_walker_)

NEWS| Vogue Italia and The Dubai Mall's Eco Talents Scouting Initiative

Vogue Italia  have launched Eco-Talents Scouting, a new organisation created with The Dubai Mall in order to encourage creativity in eco-fashion and eco-design. Aimed at both emerging and established designers, all the selected projects will be exhibited in October at The Dubai Mall during the “Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience”.

Editor in Chief of Vogue Italia Franca Sozzani commented on the enterprise: "The Dubai Mall is a Fashion World. Vogue Italia is a Fashion Magazine. To make an event together means to welcome all the people who love fashion, and also to give an opportunity to young talents to show their creativity and their talent”

Want to enter? You need to send to ecotalents@condenast.it the following information:

• Biography and info on the brand
• A lookbook of the two latest collections
• A list of stores where the brand is sold
• A short text illustrating your project with relevant sketches and designs

Deadline to be part of this global eco initiative is 30th June 2013. For more information, visit Vogue Italia's Eco Talents pages. 

By Cass Gowing, Editor. 
Follow her on Twitter, @CassGowing

NEWS| Angus Chiang from Shih Chien Taiwan wins International Show

Taiwanese graduate Angus Chiang was yesterday announced as the winner of the inaugural International Show. His futuristic colour popping pom pom designs caught the eye of the esteemed panel of judges - headed by Vogue Italia's Sara Maino and the audience alike. 

Chiang, a graduate from Shih Chien Taiwan, will showcase his collection at Fashion Scout London during London Fashion Week. He has also won £1000 for himself, £500 for his university. 

By Editor Cass Gowing, Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing
Photographs by Tram Nguyen, Follow her on Twitter @TramNguyenP

NEWS| International Show at Graduate Fashion Week

Yesterday saw the first ever International Show take place at Graduate Fashion Week. Held at Earls Court, the International Show saw 20 graduate designers from the following schools take the stage. 

Academy of Art, San Francisco

BUNKA (Japan)

Shenkar (Israel)

Shih Chien (Taiwan)

FIT (Italy)

Istituto Marangoni Milan

IED (Institito Europeo di Design - Italy)

Accademia di Costume e Moda (Italy)

IUVA (Italy)

Kolding (Denmark)

Istituto Marangoni Paris

ESMOD Berlin

ESMOD Oslo

Parsons New York

Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (Pakistan)

Mimar Sinan Fine Arts (Turkey)

An eclectic mix of cultures and styles were showcased through a series of accomplished and astounding designs - the very best of graduate collections globally. 

Aside from the showcase itself, the International Show was also being judged by an esteemed panel including Hilary Alexander (read her article for The Telegraph on the show here), blogger Susie Bubble, Royal College of Art's Professor Wendy Dagworthy and chaired by Vogue Italia's Sara Maino. After deliberation, the winner, Angus Chiang from Shih Chien Taiwan was announced. See full post of the winner here. 

By Editor Cass Gowing, Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing

Photographs by Tram Nguyen, Follow her on Twitter @TramNguyenP.

NEWS| Graduate Fashion Week tickets still available as industry rallies support

This weekend, the elite of the fashion industry from international recruiters to press to buyers will be attending Graduate Fashion Week (2^nd – 5^th June) 2013.

Having launched the careers of Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Christopher Bailey and Julien Macdonald – this esteemed platform will showcase the best new designers, marketeers, product developers, digital innovators, pattern cutters, textile designers, merchandisers and buyers. In fact, Drapers 2012 Market Report found that an astounding 78.2% of retailers thought that Graduate Fashion Week was beneficial to the sector

Rob Templeman, Chairman Graduate Fashion Week is thrilled with the industry's growing support, “It’s really great to see the industry coming together to support our young talent, we know that its absolutely crucial for graduates to have as much on the job experience as possible."

Graduate Fashion Week attracts approximately 25,000 visitors over 4 days, with 23 catwalk shows and the work from 56 universities on show including 16 from oversees. 

Don’t panic, there’s still time for you to get your tickets to the highly anticipated shows, including the International Show on Monday 3rd June. Visit the official GFW website here for more information. 

By Cass Gowing, Fashion Scout Editor. Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing.

NEWS| 2013 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize applications close 31.05.13

Last chance to apply for 2013 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize as applications close on 31.05.13. 

The Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize is available to enter for designers of couture, ready-to-wear clothing or premium accessories who are based in UK, France, Italy, Switzerzerland or the US. Applicants must have an established brand which has been running between 2-5 years. 

The final will be on 29 October 2013 at The Dorchester, where five shortlisted designers will be invited to stage a catwalk presentation.

The prize is an endowment of £25,000 to help establish the brand, a two night stay at a Dorchester Collection hotel and one-to-one mentoring from a selection of the judges. 

To apply visit here. 

By Cass Gowing, Editor. Follow Cass on Twitter @CassGowing

COLLECTION| CYAN Autumn / Winter ’13 Look Book

Part of Fashion Scout’s Kiev Showroom that took place in March this year, designer Victoria Panyukova of CYAN presented an Autumn / Winter ’13 collection that takes reference in wooden toy building kit. Playful proportions of layers and panels sit on a palette of earth tones that read as rich yet calm. The Ukrainian based designer debuts a new look book of the collection that features photography from Furka Ishchuk-Paltseva.

“It is a story of childish curiosity and desire for discovering the world, inclination to build “castles in the air” Victoria talks on the narrative behind this winter collection. Geometric structures and forms mimic building blocks and explores a connection between the pieces that can be interchanged. Wool, chiffon and cotton with a use of vibrant prints create the mood for this collection that sticks to the label's aesthetic using high quality fabrics and  finding technological solutions for style.

Founded in 2012 the brand has a design ethos that combines functionality with traditional European styles. Victoria Panyukova takes a feminine approach to structured and minimalist design not focusing on trends but on creating her own woman.

Text by Vanessa Omoregie